Charles H. Cummings

EASTHAM — Charles H. Cummings, age 94, a longtime resident of Eastham, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, at his home, after a long illness with cancer.

He was the husband of Ruth (Larson) Cummings for 54 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, David Cummings, and his wife, Charlotte, of Mesa, Ariz.; three daughters, Carol Nolan and her husband, George, of Seekonk, Roberta Falco of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Joan Cortese and her husband, Michael, of Rockford, Mich.; a sister, Helen Simpson of Rumford, R.I.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two brothers, Edwin Cummings and Everett Cummings, as well as his granddaughter, Ann Marie Falco.

Mr. Cummings was born in East Providence, R.I., in 1912. Charles graduated from East Providence High School in 1931. He earned his degree in machine design in 1934 from Rhode Island School of Design.

He was employed as a tool designer at Brown & Sharp Manufacturing Co. for several years. During World War II, he was general manager of Tool Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Providence, R.I., furnishing cutting tools for companies such as Waltham Watch Co., Pratt & Whitney, Elastic Shop Nut, General Electric and others. He was also active in the war effort.

After the war, he developed and manufactured fishing reels and equipment, which was sold to distributors such as Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Phillips Petroleum.

Later, he handled sales of Hyster lift trucks for the state of Rhode Island and for Southern Massachusetts. In 1956, he was employed by Clark Equipment Co. as a branch manager, Newark, N.J. He was transferred to company headquarters in Battle Creek, Mich., as national accounts sales manager to the forest products industry. He retired in 1976 from Clark Equipment Co. as manager of the Detroit national accounts office, handling sales to automotive and other major companies in Michigan, among which were Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Kmart and Wickes Lumber.

After retiring, he remodeled his summer home in Eastham and moved there in 1976.

Charles was active in the Masons and was master of the Rising Sun Lodge No. 30 in 1955. He was a 32nd-degree Scottish Rite in Grand Rapids, Mich., and a member of Saladin Shrine, also in Grand Rapids, Mich.

A member of the United Congregational Church in East Providence, R.I., he served on the finance committee and sang in the choir. He enjoyed singing in church choirs in the United Congregational Church in East Providence, R.I., Verona Congregational Church in New Jersey, Pennfield Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, Mich., Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Fla., and Eastham United Methodist Church. He was a member of the St. Mary's Lake Improvement Association in Battle Creek, Mich., and played a major part in the implementation of a 16-inch, 260-foot-deep well deed to maintain the lake level in 1964, which is still operating today.

A memorial service will be held at the Eastham United Methodist Church on Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. Burial will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the VNA of Cape Cod — Hospice, 434 Route 134, Suite G1, South Dennis, MA 02660, or to the Eastham United Methodist Church, 3200 State Highway, Eastham, MA 02642.

Nickerson Funeral Home

508-255-0259